gift

Yesterday, I had a deeply moving experience. I went to my yoga practice, and really didn't feel like going, at all. I went anyways, because yoga is like apples, we don't always feel like eating them but they are good for us, and we never regret it afterwards. My practice began with a lot of yucky feelings, yet they soon dissipated as I got more involved in my practice.

After class, there was a young woman in the change room, who lately has developed a regular yoga practice. I was sure I had seen her on the street the other day, so I asked her if she lived in the area. She said she did, and it turned out that we lived only a few blocks from each other. I introduced myself and reached out to shake her hand, and she gave me a gift I will be riding on for at least a week! As she introduced herself, she informed me that I was her inspiration, that she admired the way I practice and my diligence of going daily, and that's why she is coming everyday now. I was flabbergasted. How could I have inspired anyone, just by doing something I love?

Isn't that the way inspiration works though? We are inspired by other people when they are passionate and doing what they love. That passion then becomes contagious, and people naturally want what an inspired person has. It's a beautiful thing to see and be a part of.

I felt so moved by this young woman for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest gift for me was that when we do something that we love, we have an obligation to do it, and do it well. We are ripping off the world by not sharing our gifts. Whether its doing a job well, or even as simple as a yoga practice. We never truly know how we impact the people around us, thus, we have a responsibility to do the best of our abilities everyday, and do it with as much grace and beauty as we can.

She may have felt that my inspiration was a gift to her, but because she took the time to share it with me, the gift was mine.